The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-09
A Political War in Colorado.

DENVER, Feb. 3.-PagCsa Springs. the
seat of Archuleta county, is in state of
anarchy. A mob has driven the county
commissioners from the town and burned
several houses. Commissioner Scase
was forced to- resign his office at the point
of revolvers. A special from there says
j. b. Martinez, j. Z. Archuelta, and Nj.
Scase, Republican county commissioners,
were, on Jan. 3, unseated by Demo
cratic sher iff named Height. The act
was perpetrated with political intent,
and mob W hich followed the sheriff
after having accomplished the act of In
timidation burned the house Of Mr.
Scase at AgOsia Springs. The last act
was committed Monday during the alb
sence of Scase in Denver.
Last November the above named COM
missioners were elected by Republican
votes. At the same time Democrat
named Height was elected sheriff
There was "A great deal OF feeling at the
polls, but the preponderating Mexican
vote assured Martinez, Archuleta and
Scase their triumph over the attacks of
their antagonists. They were Mexicans,
and this, too, added strength to the bit
terness prevalent.
The feeling increased instead of dimin-
ished as the time for their induction
into office approached, and Jan. 3, at the
county seat (the time for their official
appearance) an armed mob of fifteen OF
twenty, led 10y Sheriff Height, forced its
way into the room where the commits
sioners were seated, and demanded
them to vacate their seats. The sheriff
insisted that their designations be made
out at once, else there would be blood
shed. The commissioners, installing the
temper of the mob, refused. under the
impression that the demonstration was
nothing more than a bluster, but the
mob, intent on their purpose. took forci-
b e possession OF the commissioners. and
with more threats locked them in their
room, declaring it to be their purpose to
starve them into submission. At the
time of the forcible entry of the mob.
MARTINEZ lett the room and escaped
from the building A delegation of the
mob overlook hln, and foIcibly drag
ged him to- the court house and locked
him up with his companions. Finally,
at the expiration of five or six hours,
the mob permitted their prisoners to- go,
but the concession seemed to be for Il
purpose.
After the three commissioners sepa-
rated, the mob. with the sheriff still at
their head, followed Commissioner Scase
To his home. Scase was proprietor of n
hotel at PagOsa Springs, and it was there
that he resided. The mob surrounded
the hotel. and taking Scase again in Gus
tody he was dragged forth from amidst
his family, and with guubarrel at his
head, compelled to resign his office rs
commissioner.
The resignation so obtained was at
once forwarped to- Gcv. Adams, and in
structions sent with it that he appoint at
once a Democrat in place of Scase. Since
that time the board has not meet. No
laws have been enforced, and a condi-
ton of things bordering upon anarchy
has prevailed. The commissioners have
not been permitted to set foot in the
county since the day they were warned
at the peril of their lives not to return
IN fact IL was dangerous to remain in the
vicinity, and So they departed at once to
Denver, not only for protection, but to
lay their grievances before their Repre-
sentatives in the Legislature and the
Governor. The Governor is doing all in
his power to secure a settlement of the
trouble. The matter was brought before
the General Assembly yesterday, and a
JOINT committee appointed to investigate
The affair at once.